Church: Sorry but our stance on LGBT stays

Church: Sorry but our stance on LGBT stays

The Roman Catholic Church head has apologised for a statement he made last month on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) issues, but maintained the Church's stance on LGBT sexual relationships.

Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Church here, William Goh, had said on June 21 that a family unit comprises a father, mother and children, and that LGBT sexual relationships are "not in accordance with the plan of God".

But in an open letter posted on the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore's website yesterday, the archbishop apologised if his earlier statement had "conveyed insensitivity".

The letter was addressed to Catholics with same-sex orientation.

NEGATIVE

Stressing that he's "not indifferent" to the pain and frustration felt by Catholics with same-sex orientations, Archbishop Goh said some Catholics reacted negatively to his earlier statement.

"You have expressed hurt, anger and disappointment; that the Church, like the rest of society, seemed to ostracise you and showed inconsistency in her preaching of compassion, by not approving of your freedom to love," he wrote.

He said that same-sex unions have negative implications on the family and society, such as how children of these partnerships develop identity crises.

"This is what I was referring to in my initial statement when I used the terms 'detriment' and 'destructive'. They do not refer to the individual but the consequences of such a union on society and future."

He said that the Church "does not disapprove of a loving relationship between same-sex individuals that is chaste and faithful".


This article was first published on July 4, 2014.
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